ARSA tells Congress to complete FAA reauthorization bill

The uncertainty created by Congress’ failure to pass a new, multiyear reauthorization bill for the FAA is wreaking havoc on the aviation industry and undermining the competitiveness of American aviation maintenance providers, officials with the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) told House and Senate leadership in a Dec. 1 letter.

“While the country desperately needs the predictability of a new FAA law, Congress must also ensure that the final legislation does not detrimentally impact the thousands of facilities in communities throughout the country that provide aviation maintenance services,” said ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein.

In weighing in with House leaders, ARSA stressed the important role that aviation repair stations play in ensuring aviation safety and reliability. “Specifically, the repair station and noncertificated maintenance provisions in the final legislation must guarantee effective government oversight without unnecessarily increasing industry compliance costs,” ARSA officials said, noting “failure to do so would jeopardize the vitality of an industry that helps air carriers be more reliable, efficient, and safe; has a $2.4 billion positive balance of trade; employees more than 274,000 American workers in good paying jobs in all 50 states; and contributes more $39 billion to the U.S. economy.”

ARSA’s letter follows a renewed sense of urgency on Capitol Hill for completion of a new, long-term FAA reauthorization measure before the Jan. 31, 2012, expiration of the current short-term extension authorizing FAA operations.

ARSA is an Alexandria, Virginia-based trade association that represents aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies. Founded in 1984, the association has a record of advocating for repair stations, providing regulatory compliance assistance to the industry, and representing repair stations on Capitol Hill and in the media. For more information: ARSA.org

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